Starting mechanism for explosive-engines.



P. B. BELOHES.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27 1912 1,086,638. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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P. B. BELOHES.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

1,086,638. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I V i'nmpco UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER B. BELCHES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STARTING M110HANISIVI FOR EXPLOSIV E-ENGINES;

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER B. BELCHES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Mechanism for Explosive- Engines; and I do declare the following to Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the motor may be converted into a pump and operated by the en- -gine to compress air intoa suitable tank whereby this air may be employed for operating the motor to start the engine.

A further object is to provide, means whereby a predetermined pressure of air will be automatically maintained in the tank.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction", and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a front view of my improved engine starting mechanism showing the same in position on. the frame of a motor vehicle and in engagement 1a. the fly wheel of the engine, a portion of said wheel being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side view of the mecha nism shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism slwwing the casings of the air controllil'ig valves in section; Fig. 5 is an enlarged irregular vertical sectional view through the casings of the air controlling valves and through the cylinder of thepiston which controls the position of the motor, taken on the line S 5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 5 and on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;Fig. 7 is a side view of the opposite side of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed May 27, 1 9l2. Serial No. 699,994. I

motor from thatshown in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a central vertical sectional view of the motor and the valve casing and valve thereof; Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the valve casing of the motor with the valve re moved and showing more particularly the arrangement of the air inlet and discharge ports of the valve casing; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the motor and its valve casing and valve taken on theline 1010 of Fig. 8 and illustrating the position of the valve at this end of the casing when the motor is operating as a pump; Fig. 11 is a similar View through the opposite end of the valve-casing and the trating the position of'this end of the valve 'when the motor is working as a. pump; Fig.

12 is a view similar to and taken on the same line as Fig. 10 illustrating the positionof the valve at this end of the casing when the 'motor is working as a motor, and Fig. 13 is a view similar to and taken on the same line as Fig. 11 illustrating the position of the valve at this end of the casing when the motor is working as a motor.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I provide a motor comprising a cylindrical casing 1 in which is revolubly mounted an eccentrically disposed cylindrical piston 2, one side of which forms a fluid tight engagementwith the adjacent inner surface of thecylinden between the inlet and .discharge ports thereof. In the piston 2 on opposite sides of the center thereof are longitudinal recesses or sockets 3. The recess 3 on one side of the center ofthe piston opens through one side thereof, while the recess on the opposite side of the center opens through the opposite side of the'piston as shown. Slidably mounted in the recesses 3 are the wings or blades 4 of the piston, said blades being forced outwardly'and yieldinglyheld in a projected position by coiled springs 5 a valve casing 6 in which is disposed a rotary valve 7 by means ofwhichthe passage of the air to'and from the cylinder of the motor is controlled. --The valve chamber connnunicatcs with the cylinder near one end thereof by an air inlet port or passage and near the opposite end thereof by an inlet. port or passage 9. In one side of the valve chamber 6 is formed an air inlet port 10 through which air is drawn into the motor when the latter is operated as a pump and in the opposite side at the opposite end of the valve chamber is an air exhaust port 10 10 t rough which air exhausts when the motor employed as a motor. In the same side the valve chamber but at the opposite end i" om the port 10 is arranged a combined i, and discharge port 11, said port s rving an inlet port when the motor is us d as a motor and as a discharge port when the motor is used as a pump. The combined inlet and discharge port 11 of the valve is connected by a flexible air conductpipe 12 with a compressed air tank 13 i to whici air is compressed by the motor when the latter is operated as a pump and .l'roiu wh ch the air is taken to drive the motor when, employed as such it a suitable position on the valve casing the motor is arranged an apertured lug which is pivotally connected to a motor there! si porting plate 15 bolted or otherwise suity secured to one of the side bars 16 of frame oi the machine. The plate 15 is urthcr supported and braced at its outer end by inclined'brace rod 17 connected atone end with the upper side of the frame bar 16 and at its lower end to a lug 18 on the end of the plate 15 as shown. The bracing and supporting rod 17 has arranged thereon a. sleeve 1) one end of which engages the lug; and the other end the upper side of the her 16. 3y providing the bracing rod 1 l7 h the sleeve .19 having its ends engaged withthc lug 18 and side bar of the frame 't will be seen that the inner end of the plate 25 is securely braced and fastened against movement in either direction. 5 fin the pi to 15 isarranged a cylinder 20 having therein a piston 21 between which the lower end of the cylinder is arr: 1;;ctl a coiled sprin 22 the pressure of is applied to the piston to force it torwniwl y in the cylinder. The piston 21 is mn'idcd with a piston rod 23 which extends :rongh one end of the cylinder and through 1Q plate 15 and is connected at its outer end wi h one arm, 24 of a bell crank lever 25 which. fulcrum ed on a bearing lug 26 on the lmvcr side of the frame bar 16. The her arm of the bell crank lever is connc icii by a connecting rod 28 to a lug 29 on t e adjacent side of the motor casing 1 when the bell crank lever is rocked direction or the other the i'notor caswill no swung on its pivotal connection the plate 15 in a corresponding direcpump, said fly wheel will operate the motor as will be readily understood.

To the compressed air tank or reservoir 13 i is connected an air conducting pipe 32 which is connected toacheck valye casing 33 to which is also conhect/ed the upper end of the flexible air condncting pipe 12 leading from .the valve casing on the motor. The valve casing 33 has arranged therein a check valve 34 which ipens. toward the compressed air reservoir or a ainst the pressure of the air therefrom. siidably mounted in the casing 33 of the valve 34' is a valve operating stem 35 one end of which extends through and projects a suitable distance beyond one end of the valve casing and is adapted to be engaged by an operating mechanism hereinafter described. The pipe 32 of the air tank-or reservoir is also connected by a branch air conducting pipe 36 to a valve casing 37 arranged on the upper end of the cylinder 20 and having therein an air inlct'port 38 and an air discharge port 39, said ports communicating with the cylinder 20. Also arranged at a suitable position in the valve casing 37 is an air discharge or release port 10. In the valve casing 37 is slidably mounted acylindrical valve 41 which is adapted to open and close the ports 38 and 39 thereby controlling the inlet and discharge of air to and from the cylinder 20. Arranged in the outer end of the valve casing 37 and engaged with the valve 41 is a light coiled spring 42 the pur- I pose of which will be hereinafter described. Also arranged in the outer portion of the valve casing 37 is a valve operating rod or stem 43 one end of which is engaged with the end of. the valve 4]. and the other end of which projects through the, 0nd of the valve casing and is adapted to he engaged by an operating mechanism hereinafter dcscribcd.

The valve 7 in the casing l on the motor is provided with an operating stem 44 which projects through one end of the val ve casing and has fixedly secured thereto a valve operating lever 45 which is normally held in engagcmcnt with a stop 46 on the end of the rusing by a bowed spring 4;? one end of which is secured to the stop 46 and the other cud engaged with the lower side of: the lever as shown in Fig. 1.

Suitably mounted on the bottom of the body of the automobile to which the motor is applied or to any other suitable part of the machine a foot operating lever 48 one end ol' which projects up through the bottom of the machine and has arranged thereon a foot trcadle 49. At a suitable position on the loot lever 48 is a valve operating rod 50 the lower end of which extends downwardly in position to engage the outer end of the valve operating lever 45 on the stem 44 of the valve 7 whereby when the footlever is depressed the valve operating lever 45 will be actuated to shift the valve 7 from its normal position to a position wherein the compressed air from the tank or reservoir 13 will be admitted through the pipe 12 to the motor cylinder to drive the piston therein in the proper direction for causing the pulley on the piston shaft to operate the fly wheel of theengine whereby the latter is cranked. On the foot lever 48 are also arranged valve operating lugs 51 and 52 which are adapted to respectively engage the valve stems 35 and 43 of the valves 34 and 41 in the valve casings connected with the air pipe of the compressed air reservoir whereby said valves are properly operated for admitting the conniressed air from the reservoir to the air conducting pipe 12 and cutting oft the i an the reservoir to the cylinder and releasing the air in said cylinder whereby the spring is permitted to project:- the pisten 21 and piston rod 23 thereby actuating the ell crank lever 25 to shift the motor 1 in n 4 n to engage the pulley 31 on the shaft the t w 1th the fly wheel of t-he'engine.

.lly ronstructing and arranging the motor 1 and the air controlling mechanism con- 49 heeled i erewith in the manner described it will seen that when the valve 7 ot the motor in its normal position or the position in which it is held by the spring 47 and the motor is in position for engaging 'ie pulley thereof with the fly wheel. the tor will act as a pump and the piston thereof will be driven by the fly wheel thereby forcing air through the air conducting pipe 12 to the valve casing and past the check valve 34 through the pipe 32 to the reservoir, said valve 34 being opened automatically by the pressure of the air as each char-g 'orced past the same by the pump.

As lit a nbefore stated the motor is held in p sition for engaging the pulley with the fly vvl'u'irl of the engine by the action of the spring in the cylinder 20, said spring projecting the piston 21 and through the same the piston rod 23 actuating the bell cranl; lever 25 and. connecting rod 28 to riill l 1h motor to the position stated. The spring '11! in the cylinder 20 will continue to am. and hold the motor in engagement with the fly wheel of the'engine until the pressure fly wheel 29.

of air being pumpel into the reservoir 13 is sutficient to open the valve 41 against the pressure of its spring 42 and to overcome the pressure of the spring 22 in the cylinder 20. When the pressure of the air in the reservoir is suflicient to overcome the pressure of the spring 22 the piston 21 will be projected against the pressure of the spring thereby causing the piston rod 23 to actuate the bell crank lever in a reverse direction thereby swinging the motor back and disengaging the pulley 31 thereof from the fly wheel of the engine thereby stopping the pumping operation. As long as a suthcient pressure is maintained in the reservoir 13 to overcome the action of the spring 22 the motor will be held out of engagement with the fly wheel of the engine. As soon however as the pressure in the reservoir is reduced the spring will again project the piston and automatically swing the motor into engagement with the fly wheel of the engine, thus operating the motor to pump more air into the reservoir until the pressure is restored. It will thus be seen that the air pressure in the reservoir 13 is automatically maintained.

WVhcn it is desired to employ the motor as a motor for cranking the engine the foot lcver 48 is depressed thus bringing the valve operating rod 50 into engagement with the lever 45 whereby the latter will be actuated to turn the valve 7 in the proper direction for permitting the air from the air pipe 12 to enter the motor cylinder. This air operates to drive the piston and the pulley 31 in the proper direction for operating the When the foot lever is depressed to engage the rod 50 with the valve operating lever 45 the lug 51 is simultaneously engaged with the stem 35 of the check valve 34 and said stern projected to open the check valve 34 thereby permitting the air from the reservoir to enter the. air conducting pipe 12 which conducts the air to the motor. The operation of the toot lever 48 also engages the lug 52 with the stem 43 of the valve 41 thereby operating said valve to close the air inlet port 38 in the valve casing 37 thus cutting off the pressure of air from the reservoir to the cylinder 20 and simultaneously opening the discharge port 39 which will permit the air in the cylinder 20 above the piston 21 to escape through the valve casing 37 and release port 40. As soon as the pressure of the air is thus cut off from the cylinder 20 and the air remaining therein released, the spring 22 will immediately project the piston. in said cylinder thereby causing the piston rod 23 to actuate the bell crank lever 25 in the proper direction for swinging the motor into position for engaging the pulley thereon with the fly wheel of the engine so that the action of the pulley is applied to the fly wheel for cranking the engine. As soon as the engine has been started the foot lever is released thus permitting the spring 47 to actuate the lever 4-5 and to return the valve 7 to its normal position which instantly changes the motor to a pump, so that the action of the fly wheel is now applied to the,

pulley to operate the same and the piston of the motor in the proper iirection for forcing more air back into the air reservoir in the manner described and until the pressure in the reservoir has been restored to its n-mal degree whereupon the motor will be automatically disengaged from the fly wheel in the manner described.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructimi may he resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as shown.

llaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An engine starter comprising a suitably supported compressed air motor, a valve to control the admission of air to the motor, a. drive pulley fixed on the shaft of the motor, a spring to shift said motor into position for engaging said.pulley with the fly wheel of the engine. a ("impressed air reservoir, means actuated by the pressure of air in said reservoir to overcome the pressure of said spring and disengage the motor from the tly wheel, means adapted to be actuated by the operator to shift said valve to a position [or admitting compressed air from said reservoir to said motor, whereby the latter operated to drive said lly wheel, and means to simultaneously release the air pressure lrom said motor shitting spring to permit the latter to shift the motor into operative engagement with the lly wheel of the engine.

2. An engine starter comprising a combined compressed air motor and air pump, a compressed air reservoir, a valve casing connected with said motor and with said reservoir, a valve in said casing to control the admission ot the air from the reservoir to the motor and from the motor to the reservoir, wherel'iy the motor is operated as such to drive the engine, and whereby when the motor is driven by the engine said motor will pump air into the reservoir, a drive pulley on the shaft of the motor, a motor shifting mechanism to engage said pulley with the tiy wheel of the engine when the air pressure in the reservoir is reduced, means to normally hold said valve in position to permit the motor to pump air into the reservoir when driven by the engine, and

means to shift said valve to admit compressed air to the motor and to simultaneously release said motor shifting mechanism.

3. An engine starter comprising a suitably supported compressed air motor, a drive. pulley fixed on the shaft of the motor,

a valve casing connected with the motor, an air controlling valve in said casing, a compressed air reservoir, an air conducting pipe to connect said valve casing with said reservoir, a. check valve arranged in said pipe,

a compressed air cylinder connected with said reservoir, a valve to control the admission and discharge of air to and from the cylinder, a piston in said cylinder adapted go to he rot-acted by the compressedair admitted to the cylinder from said reservoir, :1 spring for projecting said piston, a bell crank lever connected with said piston and with the motor, whereby when the air is 35 released from said cylinder the piston will be projected by said spring and the motor automatically shifted to engage the pulley thereof with the fly wheel of the engine, and whereby when the piston is retracted by the compressed air admitted to the cylinder, the motor will be shifted to di engage the pulley from the tly wheel, and means to operate the controlling valve of the cy inder to release the air from said cylinder, thereby permitting the spring therein to shift the motor into engagement: with the tly wheel of the engine.

t. An engine starter comprising a suitahly supported compressed air motor, a drive pulley fixed to the shaft thereof, a valve casing connected with the motor, an air controlling valve in said casing, a spring actuated lever to normally hold said valve in position to permit the motor to act as a pump, a compressed air reservoir, an air conducting pipe to connect said valve casing with said reservoir, a check valve ar ranged in said pipe, a valve operating stem, a compressed air cylinder connected with said reservoir, a valve to control the admission and discharge of air to and from said. cylinder, an operating stem connected to said last mentioned valve, a piston in said cylinder adapted to be retracted by the compressed air admitted to the cylinder and from said reservoir, a spring for PIOJQCtlIlg said piston, a bell crank lever connected with said piston and with the motor, whereby when the air is released from said cylinder the piston will be projected b this spring and the motor automatically s ifted-to engage the pulley thereof with the fly wheel of the engine and when the piston is retracted by the compressed air admitted to the 126 cylinder the motor will be shifted to disengage the pulley from the fly wheel, a suitably mounted valve operating lever, means carried by said lever to actuate the lever of the air controlling valve of the motor, where- 130 by said valwe is turned to admit air to the mator from the reservoir, and means carried by said 10mm to engage the stems of said check valve and the valve of said compressed air cylinder, whereby said valvQs are operated simultaneously .Wiih the operation of the air contsieilixig valve of tha momr.

in testimony wheres]:

BSSQS.

PETER Witnesses JAMES DAME 7 O. SESSINGI-LAUS 

